Switch-operating mechanism.



-Wnesses W. l. FOX.

.v SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISNI.

APPLlcATloN FILED JUNE 22. 191s.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

`lllll W. l. FOX. SWlCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED IuIIE 22.IsIs.

1,295,149. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS- SHEE 2.

K I@ Q* L.

WADIE J. FOX, oF DOUGLAS, oKLAHoMA.

SWITCH-OPERATING MEcHANIsM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application led June 22, 1918. Serial No. 241,389.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WAD'IE J. FOX, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at VDouglas, in the county of Garfield and State of Oklahoma,have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism,of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to railway switch operating mechanisms and aimsto provide means by which the engineer of a train approaching a Iswitchmay operate the latter without stopping the train.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which theswitch may be operated for either the main track or side track, theposition of the switch being determined by a. device mounted upon theengine and manually operated to throw the switch to the desiredposition.

To this end the invention includes a track device positioned in advanceof the switch and embodying suitable mechanism for controlling` theposition of the switch points, the said mechanism controlling a signalmounted upon a casing of the track device and further including slidablymounted trip elements positioned for contact with a car device, so thatthe approaching train may control the position of the switch.

The invention further includes the following novel details ofconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinaftermore speciically described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch, showing a main track and asiding and the position oi' the track devices and their connection withthe switch points;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the track device;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the face plate of the casingbroken away tomore-clearly show the inner mechanism; n

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5 ofFig.2;and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the slides correspondingparts, the rails of the main track are shown at A and the railsof the i'siding at iB. The switch points C are connected by a transverselyslidable bar D and this bar has connected to one end one arm 10 of athree armed lever E, the latter being pivotally mounted as shown at 11.Another arm l2 of the lever E 'has pivotally connected thereto one endof a rod 13, the opposite end oil' this rod being connected to themechanism of the trackY device F. The other arm of the three armed leverE is shown' at 14 and has connected thereto one end of a'rod 15, theopposite end of this rod being connected to the track device G. Thetransverse Ebar D has its opposite end connected to oney end of a bentlever 16, which is pivyoted at 17. The opposite end ofthis lever hasconnected thereto one end of a rod 18, whose opposite end is connectedto the track device H. These track devices are operated by'a traindevice set for contact with the track devices so as to operate theswitch.

As these track devices F, G, and Hare similar in construction, only oneof these devices will be illustrated in detail and described. Each ofthe track devices is contained within a suitable casing 19, preferablyof rectangular shape and having a face plate 20 which carries theoperating mechanism, the said face secured to the casing so that accessmaybe obtained to the said mechanism. Mounted upon the rear of the faceplate 2O are upper and lower guides 21 and 22 and anintermediate guide23, these guides being riveted to a plate 24 spaced from the inner sideof the face plate 2O to provide grooves or channels 25. Mounted forsliding movement within these grooves or channels are plates or slides26 and 27, the slide 26 being hereinafter referred to as the upperslide, while the slide 27 will be referred to as the lower slide. Eachof the slides 26 and 27 is provided with spaced. lugs 28 and pivotallyplate being removably trip elements 30. through parallel slots providedin the face plate 20, the said slots being horizontally disposed so thatthe slides 26 and 27 may be capable of horizontal movement. Each-of thetrip elements 30 is provided upon 4opposite sides with laterallyextending wings 32, these wings carrying at their outer ends rollers 33for contact `with the'face plate 20, so

The lugs 28 extend that the trip elements'will be prevented from pivotalmovement by such contact; rLocated L' between the slots near the endsthereof are openings 34 through which the wings 32 are adapted to pass,so that when fthe slides 26 and 27 reach the limit of their movement,the wings 32 will enter the openings and permit the trip elements tomove upon the -pins 29 outof'ftheir normally right angular position.

Positioned behind eac of the openings 34 :is aff1at,spring.35,.one endof the latter being secured upon a pin 36. These pins are posi- .tionedwithin channel bars 37 carried by a A,plate .38, .the latter beingspaced 'from the face plate 20 and providing an additional .casing -orhousing for the mechanism. The freeends of ,the springs 35 are:positioned so as to cover the openings34 and .when the wings 32contactwith the springs, the late i ter will yield so as to permit `the saidwings to enter the openings and ,allow the pivotal movement of 'the tripelements. To further insure the proper' ,positioning of .the springs 354the coiled springs 39 are secured .to the vplate 38 kand bear 4againstthe flat springs 35. T he slides26 and 27 are cut awayas shown at 40 topermit ofthe proper yielding movementofthe springs 35, .the out awayportion being so proportioned however that when :the k,trip Yelementsare at .one end of their .movement, .the ,opening 34 at ,the oplopositeend fof the slots .31 v[will .be covered y the slide. This prevents`entrance of `dustor dirt ,through theopenings .and renders `the devicedust-proof.

Mounted upon shaft 41 .between the slides y26;,and 27 isa pinion 42,which ;is adapted to ,engage rack teeth 43 and 44 lprovided in theadjacent edgesof each ofthe slides 26 and-2.7 respectively. The shaft 41is journaled in .suitable bearings provided in the faceplate 20 and theplate 38 the saidshaft extending yinwardly beyond` he latter lplate andhaving mounted thereon an arm 45,. of vthis arm has connected theretoone end of a rod 46 and the opposite .end of this rod is connected toone arm of the bell crank 47 .pivotally mounted asshown `at 48 withinthe casing 19. The o ther arm of the bell crank has connected theretothrough the medium of ka llink yor bell crank one end -of one of therods 13 15 or 1'8- las fthe case may be. Also mounted upon the shaft 41is a spring arm 49, fthefree endof which enters a radial slot 5,10formed ina dsk Aor wheel 51, the latter Vbeing mounted `upon vone end ofva vertically disposed shaft 52 ,havingbearings lin the top of thecas'ing19. yThis shaft extends Athrough the casing and `.carries signalarm 53 and a `signal 'lamp 54 of the usual construction.

Thecasing which contains the foregoing described mechanism ris adapted-to be mounted adjaQeIl-t ,the ,track with the trip elementsSO'eXtending inwardly o r toward the track `for `Contact .Wih Suitabletrein device. This .train device is 4prefem.lily Vpostioned 59 -is,positioned The outer end` these 'rodsY extending within convenientreach of the engineer and being provided with handles 58 to facilitatetheir operation. Mounted upon each of the rods 57 is an arm 59, this armbeing adapted to extend through slot 60 in the plate 55. The arms 59 ofthe rods .57 are spaced aparta vertical distance equal to the distancebetween the trip elements ofthe slides 26 and 27 The train device .is`so positioned that when thearms 59 are moved outwardly through theslots 60, they will contact with the trip elements 'of the slides 26 and27. As each of the arms upon a separate rod,either yarm ,may be,manipulated for vContact with its respective trip element, the rod 57being rotated to project the arm 59 through the slot 60, the adjacentend of therslot forming a stop to limit the movement of the rod in onedirection. v

In the operation of the invention when it is desired to enter the sidingwith the switch in the position shown in Fig. 1, the engineer of anapproaching train will rotate the rod 57 of the upper arm 59 to yprojectthis arm through its slot 60. Thiswill cause'said arm to engage theupper trip element 30 of the slide 36 of the track device F, moving thesaid slide in a manner to rotate the shaft 41 and operate the switch andsignal. When .the slide thus operated reaches the limit-of its movement,one of its wings 32 will enter the opening 34 permittingthe .tripelement to swing upon the pin 29, so that the arm 59 will pass thetrip.As soon as the arm 59 has passed, the itrip element will be restored toits normal kposition under the influence of the springs 35 and 39 so asto vbe in position foroperation .by the train approaching from theopposite direction. During the move ment'of the slide engaged by the arm59, the other slide will be moved in reverse direction through theaction of the pinion 42.

It is believed that when the foregoing description is read in connectionavith the accompanying drawings, that the opera-tion and advantages ofthe invention will ybe apparent and that a more ext-ended description isunnecessary. The 'invention is susceptible of various changes ,in itsform, proportions and minordetails of construction and the right isreserved to make such changes.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A switch operatingdevice embodying the operation of zthe former will rotate 'the v latter,atrip carried by said slide, `a train device adapted to contact withsaid trip to move,the slide, means whereby said trip will beautomatically released from contact'with the train device at the end ofthe movement of the slide and means connecting the rotaably mountedshaft with the switch points to operate the latter upon rotation of theshaft.

2. A switch operating device embodying a track mechanism, said mechanismincluding a casing positioned adjacent the track, a rotatably mountedshaft therein, a slide mounted for horizontal movement within saidcasing, a trip element pivotally secured to said slide and mounted formovement upon the outside of the casing` means for holding the tripelement against pivotal movement during the horizontal movement of theslide, means for permitting the pivotal movement of the trip elementwhen the slide reaches the limit of its movement, a train device, meanswhereby said train device may be set to contact with the trip element tooperate the slide and means connecting the rotatably mounted shaft withthe switch points to operate the latter upon rotation of the shaft.

3. A switch operating device embodying a track mechanism, said mechanismincluding a casing positioned adjacent the track, a rotatably mountedshaft therein, a slide mounted for horizontal movement within saidcasing, a trip element pivotally secured to said slide and mounted formovement upon the outside of the casing, means including laterallyextending wings engageable with the face of the casing for holding thetrip `element against pivotal movement during the horizontal movement ofthe slide, means for permitting the pivotal movement of the trip elementwhen the slide reaches the limit of its movement, a train device, meanswhereby Said train device may be set to Contact with the trip element tooperate the slide and means connecting the rotatably mounted shaft withthe switch points to operate the latter upon rotation of the shaft.

4. A switch operating device embodying a track mechanism, said mechanismincluding a casing positioned adjacent the track, a rotatably mountedshaft therein, a slide mounted for horizontal movement within saidcasing, a trip element pivotally secured to said slide and mounted formovement upon the outside of the casing, means for holding the tripelement against pivotal movement during the horizontal movement of thetrip element when the slide reaches the limit of its movement, a traindevice,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe means whereby said train device may be set to contact with the tripelement to operate the slide and means connecting the rotatably mountedshaft with the switch points to operate the latter upon rotation of theshaft.

5. A switch operating device embodying a track mechanism including acasing positioned adjacent the track, the rotatably mounted shafttherein, a slide mounted for horizontal movement within said casing,spaced ears carried by said slide and operating through slots in onewall of the casing, a trip element pivoted between said ears, laterallyextending side wings engageable with the face plate of the casing forholding the trip element against pivotal movement during the horizontalmovement of the slide, yieldable means positioned within the casingbehind openings in the face plate for permitting pivotal movement of thetrip element when the slide reaches the limit of its movement, meanswhereby the slide will cover the openings in the face plate to renderthe casing dust proof, a train device, means whereby said train devicemay be set to contact with the trip element to operate the slide andmeans connecting the rotatably mounted shaft with the switch points tooperate the latter upon rotation of the shaft.

6. A switch operating device embodying a track mechanism, said mechanismincluding a rotatably mountedy shaft, slides mounted for horizontalmovement upon opposite sides of said shaft, means connecting the saidslide and shaft whereby the operation of one of the slides will rotatethe shaft and move the other slide in a reverse direction from the firstmentioned slide, means connecting the rotatably mounted shaft with theswitch points for operating the latter, a signal controlled by saidshaft and a train device for operating the slides.

7. A switch operating device embodying a track mechanism, said mechanismincludk ing a rotatably mounted shaft, slides mounted for horizontalmovement upon the opposite sides of said horizontal shaft, a rack andpinion connection between said slides and shaft whereby the operation ofone of the slides will rotate the shaft and move the other slide in areverse direction from the first mentioned slide, means connecting therotatably mounted shaftwith the switch points for operating the latter,a signal controlled by said shaft and a train device for operating theslides.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WADIE J. FOX.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

